NOVEL NEXT Chapter 107 Liu Daozi
"Twenty-five Azure Seeds, at eleven Source Stones each, totaling 275 Source Stones."
Seven-Leaf continued, "Forty-five Gorgon Fruit Seeds, at fifteen Source Stones each, totaling 675 Source Stones. Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, the Origin Force Food you've sold totals 950 Source Stones."
Dragon Cypress said, "...Correct."
Ink Orchid asked, "What about the Six Paths Wood Seed from Six Peaks Mountain that you promised to gift us?"
"Wait a moment." Seven-Leaf took out its cylindrical metal can from the Outworld Civilization, unscrewed the lid, and handed a Six Paths Wood Seed to Dragon Cypress.
Dragon Cypress turned and handed it to Ink Orchid.
Ink Orchid inspected it, then carefully took out a prepared Spider Silk Bag, a Bamboo Tube, and some dry grass, and meticulously stored the seed.
Seven-Leaf asked, "Dragon Cypress, how far are you from advancing to a High-Level Ant King?"
Dragon Cypress replied, "Once the trade with the caravan is complete, I'll prepare for my advancement."
Seven-Leaf asked with apparent concern, "Then you'll need high-quality Origin Force Food?"
Roving Merchant trading involved buying and selling; Origin Force Food went in and out, earning profit both ways.
Dragon Cypress, who possessed two Divine-Given Seeds and was soon to advance to a High-Level Ant King, was quite wealthy. Seven-Leaf fervently hoped Dragon Cypress would purchase more Origin Force Food from him.
Dragon Cypress seemed hesitant and said, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, let me see your goods first."
Seven-Leaf guessed that White Ivy, that foolish Spider, would also sell things cheaply to Dragon Cypress. And Melde had access to a large quantity of high-quality goods. To take a share of White Ivy's and Melde's sales, he would have to offer some unique and superior items they didn't have.
Seven-Leaf said, "I have prepared something special for you!"
On his broad carapace, over a dozen Spider Silk Ropes moved in unison, shifting and rummaging. From the very bottom, he retrieved a large Spider Silk Bag, opened it, and took out a smaller Spider Silk Bag.
Opening that, he revealed it was filled with Six Paths Seeds.
The Origin Force Food produced by the ordinary Six Paths Wood Life Seeds from Six Peaks Mountain was also rare and valuable; in the entire Flame Spider Tribe, only the Aconite Spider King's caravan sold them.
Seven-Leaf briefly introduced, "Produced in the territory of a Mountain Lord Level Cloud Ant King."
Ink Orchid asked, "What's the selling price?"
Seven-Leaf responded, "Three Source Stones each. I can sell you 300."
Ink Orchid exclaimed, "That's too expensive! Aren't you being too greedy?"
Seven-Leaf keenly observed that these two must have planned this. When they sold Origin Force Food, the Orchid Mantis was responsible for complaining the price was too low; when they bought Origin Force Food, she was responsible for complaining it was too expensive.
Seven-Leaf remained silent.
As expected, Dragon Cypress chimed in, "Three Source Stones each really is too expensive; two per seed would be reasonable. We'll take all 300."
Seven-Leaf said, "My acquisition cost is 2.5 Source Stones per seed."
Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles, indicating disbelief.
Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Liar insect!"
Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid! How can you speak to Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord like that?"
Ink Orchid retorted, "But it's true."
Dragon Cypress said, "Still, you shouldn't say it to his face..."
Seven-Leaf, having already seen through their act, remained unmoved and explained unhurriedly, "The Six-Spiked Cloud Ants Tribe requires caravans to maintain a unified selling price. The Six Paths Seeds produced in the territory of a Mountain Lord Level Ant King are priced at three Source Stones per seed—no more, no less."
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid shook their four tentacles in unison. "We don't believe it!"
Seven-Leaf said, "I can make concessions on other Origin Force Foods, but not on the Six Paths Seeds."
He continued, "The Six-Spiked Cloud Ants Tribe is one of the most important trading partners of our Aconite lineage. The Aconite Spider King also has very strict requirements for us regarding the sale of Six Paths Seeds."
Dragon Cypress said, "Then let's look at other items first."
Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, your items are too expensive!"
Seven-Leaf said, "I have cheaper ones too."
His Spider Silk Ropes swayed, retrieving a fully packed large Spider Silk Bag. He opened it, revealing it was full of black, spherical seeds, each about 5 millimeters in diameter.
Dragon Cypress couldn't recognize them at first and searched his Inherited Memory vigorously.
"What are these?" Ink Orchid asked directly.
Seven-Leaf explained, "White Fruit Fragrant Wood, a cultivated variety of Fragrant Wood. It enhances eyesight, specifically dynamic vision."
OH!
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid exclaimed in surprise, their tentacles twitching in unison, but they said nothing more.
It wasn't for enhancing comprehensive physique, so it wasn't particularly needed.
Seven-Leaf mentioned, "It's very cheap."
Dragon Cypress inquired, "How much are they?"
Seven-Leaf replied, "0.5 Source Stones each."
With that, his spider silk picked up two seeds and offered them to Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid for appraisal. They were produced in the territory of a Mountain Lord Level Insect Clan Warrior and were of excellent quality.
Dragon Cypress remarked, "We can take a moderate amount of this..."
"It's cheap! Let's buy some," Ink Orchid echoed.
Thinking of how she and Dragon Cypress often worked or traveled late at night, Ink Orchid proactively asked, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, do you have any reasonably priced, high-quality Origin Force Food that enhances night vision?"
Seven-Leaf replied, "As it happens, I do!"
Three Spider Silk Ropes rummaged and brought out a large Spider Silk Bag. Opening it revealed a bag full of round, yellowish-brown seeds with brown spots, each about 0.8 centimeters in diameter.
Seven-Leaf Spider King said, "Coptis Seeds from the Cluster Flowered Coptis Tree. Produced in the territory of a Mountain Lord Level Great Star Ground Beetle Warrior, sold in sets of five for seven Source Stones."
The pricing of Origin Force Food, aside from the core factors of enhancement type and quality, was also influenced by yield, taste, toxicity, ease of digestion and absorption, and other factors.
These Coptis Seeds were indeed not expensive.
Dragon Cypress said, "We can get some of these!"
Ink Orchid said, "Then let's get some."
Seven-Leaf recalled from their dealings last year that this Flower Mantis Warrior was quite indecisive, merely echoing whatever the Dragon Cypress Ant King said.
Seven-Leaf had also realized that these two primarily considered the price when buying things, completely disregarding the taste. After all, without the protection of elders in their youth, they must have endured considerable hardship.
Seven-Leaf said, "For a High-Level Warrior's evolution and growth, one cannot solely consider comprehensive physique enhancement. It's also necessary to ingest an appropriate amount of Origin Force Food that aligns with one's innate talent. I have Wind Fragrance Seeds here, produced by the Native Wind Fragrance Tree..."
...
...
...
Throughout the morning, Seven-Leaf introduced Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid to all the reasonably priced Origin Force Foods he carried, occasionally slipping in descriptions of some more expensive ones.
Finally, Dragon Cypress said, "We'll take 300 Six Paths Seeds."
Seven-Leaf was choked speechless for a long moment. Weren't you complaining they were too expensive? I've spent half the morning introducing these items, and didn't you seem interested in buying this and that?
He eventually said, "That's 900 Source Stones. You have 50 Source Stones left."
Dragon Cypress said, "Then let's get 35 Coptis Seeds."
Seven-Leaf said, "That's 49 Source Stones, so you have one Source Stone left... Forget it, I'll give you 50 Coptis Seeds."
"OH—"
"GREAT—"
"Thank you!"
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid both gazed at the dazzling array of goods displayed before them, somewhat unable to tear their eyes away.
Seven-Leaf asked, "Ink Orchid, last year when you advanced to High-Level Warrior, did the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed manage to blossom in time?"
Ink Orchid replied, "We were keeping track of the time. It bloomed right on schedule."
Seven-Leaf asked, "How many offshoots? What was the yield? Will it mature this year?"
Ink Orchid said, "It was just as predicted: 91 offshoots, 1,001 Orchid Seeds. It's confirmed to have a two-year Blossom-Fruit Cycle."
Seven-Leaf proactively offered, "In that case, you can buy some Origin Force Food from me on credit."
Ink Orchid shook her tentacles and said, "No, no. Buying on credit incurs interest, and you Roving Merchants are too exploitative."
Dragon Cypress also looked wary and asked suspiciously, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, do you also charge interest?"
Seven-Leaf was silent for a moment. Could there really be someone who doesn't charge interest?
He admitted, "...I do."
Seven-Leaf then asked, "Have you bought on credit from Melde and White Ivy before? How do they calculate interest? I can offer a slightly lower rate than them."
Dragon Cypress stated, "An annual interest of 5%."
Ink Orchid indignantly said, "That's too exploitative!"
Seven-Leaf paused. Suddenly alert, he realized they were setting a trap for him.
Upon further reflection, he understood why they had arrived two or three days early. They had planned to buy on credit from him even before coming, and for a considerable amount that would need to be transported back first. That would require two trips, which was why they had come to trade early.
Seven-Leaf tentatively said, "The interest rate is related to creditworthiness and the amount. Since you possess three Divine-Given Seeds, your creditworthiness is certainly not an issue... How much are you planning to buy on credit?"
Dragon Cypress said, "Ten thousand."
Ink Orchid interjected, "Let's buy less on credit. The interest is too high."
Dragon Cypress said, "Alright, Ink Orchid, I'll listen to you. Then let's buy less on credit, say, six thousand."
Exactly!
For a nine-age-period Mid-Level Dragon Cypress Ant King and a one-age-period High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior, this sum was indeed substantial. Converted to Origin Force Food, it would require a dedicated trip just to transport it all.
But—
Seven-Leaf was somewhat speechless. These two were still putting on an act, playing off each other right here.